Western Texas College vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Texas College in Snyder, TX with Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palo Alto College is larger than Western Texas College based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 1,385 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Texas College is located in Snyder, TX (Rural Fringe setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Western Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Texas College 17:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Western Texas College vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Texas College or Palo Alto College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Palo Alto College than Western Texas College ($4,805 vs. $6,153).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Texas College are 59.4% lower than at Palo Alto College ($5,786 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Texas College (about $652 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $4,890.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.8% higher at Palo Alto College than at Western Texas College (about $3,802 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $6,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Western Texas College (92% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Texas College students is 6% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($7,399 vs. $6,983).

Western Texas College vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Texas College or Palo Alto College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Palo Alto College and Western Texas College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Texas College - Open admission; Palo Alto College - Open admission.

Western Texas College vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Texas College and Palo Alto College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Western Texas College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $3,319 lower median loan debt than Western Texas College graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,819).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Texas College graduates ($56 vs. $91).
• More Western Texas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.